Rabies in Cats

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system of warm blooded animals, including dogs and cats. The causative agent is a single stranded RNA virus of the genus Lyssavirus that belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae, which on entering the body, replicates in the muscle cells and then, pervades the peripheral, sensory as well as the motor nerves. The virus, then passes into the nerve fluids and reaches the central nervous system. The disease can prove fatal, once the virus reaches the brain. Rabies can easily spread from the bite of an infected animal or pet to human beings, in which case the affected individual is given post exposure vaccination and antibody injections. Let's find out the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of rabies in cats.

Causes of Rabies in Cats
The single stranded RNA virus that causes rabies in cats, is generally passed on from an infected animal. The virus is usually present in the saliva of such infected animals, which gets transmitted to a healthy animal through bites. Rabies, in rare cases, is known to spread by ingestion of an infected animal. The animals that are most likely carriers of rabies virus are fox, raccoon, bat, wolf, jackal and mongoose. Sometimes, aerosolization can be a cause of rabies infection, though the virus generally, does not survive for a long time outside the host. Aerosolization, usually occurs in caves infested with a large number of rabies infected bats, and breathing in air escaped from such places can infect other animals like cats.

When the rabies virus enters the body of a cat through any of the above-mentioned ways, it starts replicating rapidly in the muscle cells. Then, the virus gradually spreads to the nerve fluids and ultimately, spreads to the central nervous system or brain. After reaching the brain, the virus moves to the salivary glands. It may take some time to develop infection, after the initial exposure to rabies virus. This time period is called 'incubation period', which is usually 2 to 12 weeks. However, in some cases, it may take years for the clinical symptoms of rabies to develop.

Rabies Symptoms in Cats
Like in rabid dogs, a cat goes through three stages after being infected with rabies; they are as follows: prodromal, furious and paralytic or dumb phases. Each phase of rabies in cats has some specific symptoms and an infected cat can go through one or all of these phases. The first or prodromal phase is characterized by the symptoms like nervousness, anxiety and fever. The animal may exhibit behavioral changes. As for example, a friendly cat may turn irritable, while the aggressive ones can become gentle. They can also be observed to lick or scratch the site of the bite frequently. This phase usually does not last long in cats and within a few days, the rabies infected cat enters the furious phase.

As the name suggests, furious phase is characterized by more erratic, aggressive and restless behavior. It may become over-responsive to both auditory and visual stimuli. As a result, the infected cat starts roaring loudly and biting objects, in addition to exhibiting violent and uncoordinated movements. Disorientation and seizures are also common in this phase, eventually causing death of the animal.

Some infected cats can experience the paralytic or last phase directly after the prodromal phase, without going through the furious phase. In the paralytic phase, the nerves get affected by the rabies virus and muscles, mainly in the face and neck get paralyzed. It can be observed to salivate excessively and its breathing may seem very labored. The infected cat would not be able to swallow food properly, due to mandibular paralysis. A choking sound along with a drooping jaw and protruding tongue are some other common rabies symptoms in cats. Eventually, the rabies infected cat becomes very weak due to paralysis and suffers from respiratory failure, which results in coma and then, death. Know more about symptoms of cat rabies.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Rabies in Cats
Diagnosing rabies infection can be quite difficult at times, as the infected cat may not exhibit any of the classic symptoms of rabies in the early stages. The usual practice is to examine the brain tissues under a microscope. Skin and blood samples tests are carried out occasionally and not routinely. There is no cure or treatment for rabies, once the animal gets infected, though rarely, some dogs have been reported to survive rabies infection. So, vaccination is always is the best preventive measure to protect your pet from this fatal disease. Generally, the rabies vaccine for cats is administered at the age of three or four months and then again, at one year. Then after a year, the three year vaccination program is suggested. However, many veterinarians suggest a yearly or two-yearly vaccination. Recent studies have indicated that rabies incidence is seen more in cats than dogs. This may be due to the fact that only a small number of cats are vaccinated against the disease. Find out more about rabies information and prevention tips.

On witnessing any of the symptoms of rabies in cats around or in your home, it's essential that you immediately contact a veterinarian. One should also try to keep your pet cat away from wild animals, in order to minimize the risk of rabies infection. Moreover, take precautions to ensure proper cat health care. If you observe any bite or scratch of unknown origin on your pet cat's body, then report it to a veterinarian or animal control officer as soon as possible. Above all, consult your veterinarian about rabies shots for cats, as the likelihood of rabies infection in vaccinated animals is quite less as compared to those that are not vaccinated.